Skip to main content

View Post [edit]

Poster: Phlesh Wound Date: Sep 20, 2013 8:04pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: China Doll into?

The first one I know of is from 1977-05-19 which is on DP 29, a nice ethereal jam that melds into one of the better Playin' Reprises out there. 1977-06-04 - One of the more interesting setlists of 77. China Doll appears out of a Space segment and has a short jam into Not Fade Away. http://archive.org/details/gd1977-06-04.fob.menke.motb-0096.97140.flac24 1977-12-29 - Another DP show. This is a great version they jam out on the closing theme for a while before giving way to a spacey Playin' jam. This show also features the only China>Rider between the '74 retirement and Brent joining the band. http://archive.org/details/gd1977-12-29.holwein.audience.jfishman.108432.flac16 1979-05-08 - The first time they played China Doll since that 77-12-29 show above and the crowd shows some appreciation. The end theme melts into another Playin' reprise. Classic Scarlet>Fire in this show as well. http://archive.org/details/gd1979-05-08.nak700.glassberg.motb.87806.sbeok.flac24 There are more as you go into the 80s. Many versions that jam their way into drums but also quite a few that jam into a variety of songs. Just a couple good ones off the top of my head 81/03/10 - A real nice version that heads into Truckin' 83/03/80 - Another small bust out, hadn't been played in about 18 months, goes into PITB. 84/04/27 - Very delicate jam into High Time that's quite nice. 94-10-11 - The last one. Hadn't been played in over a year, can't speak for its quality though. Explore around the 80s a bit and you'll find quite a number.
This post was modified by Phlesh Wound on 2013-09-21 03:04:34

Reply [edit]

Poster: Diamondhead Date: Sep 20, 2013 8:31pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: China Doll into?

Wow! Thanks. I got my listening road map for tomorrow.

What's really silly is that I was at the 6/4/77 Forum show. But what do I remember?

I'll probably stick to your 70s suggestions. The 10/11/83 singing sort of scared me. This songs needs vocal abilities that I think were gone by the 80s. Unless you say otherwise. :)

Reply [edit]

Poster: Phlesh Wound Date: Sep 21, 2013 5:27pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: China Doll into?

That's fair. They certainly couldn't quite hit those notes as beautifully as they did in the early days. I would be remiss if I forgot to point out the acoustic ones from the 1980 runs. They're really fragile and beautiful with Brent on harpsichord. This one is really well played and nicely sung, considering.

http://archive.org/details/gd1980-10-26.mtx.seamons.101967.flac16

There's also this one with Jerry solo and acoustic from 82. The singing is a little but rougher than the one above for sure but there is a sort of ragged glory in his scratchy voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZIj-wnF-H8

Reply [edit]

Poster: Diamondhead Date: Sep 21, 2013 6:41pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: China Doll into?

Thanks. The solo 82 is interesting. Jerry sings much better than the 83 suggestion, but his voice already sounds weaker. What I don't like as much is that by doing the song solo it seems like he chose to play it faster (maybe to keep the momentum?) and it seems to lose a lot of its stateliness to me. The RCMH version is really nice.

Reply [edit]

Poster: Pat Buzby Date: Sep 22, 2013 10:34am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: China Doll into?

I believe this 1982 show was the only time (at least after he became famous) Jerry played live by himself. Reports I've read were that he was visibly nervous and so John Kahn joined him for later acoustic gigs.

Most of the song sounds pretty nice to me but he gets a bit lost during the instrumental break.

Reply [edit]

Poster: Pat Buzby Date: Sep 21, 2013 6:36am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: China Doll into?

Yes, when Jerry tries to hit the high notes at the end of this song you hear his frazzled 80's voice in all its glory.

Reply [edit]

Poster: Pat Buzby Date: Sep 21, 2013 6:38am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: China Doll into?

"
1977-12-29 - Another DP show. This is a great version they jam out on the closing theme for a while before giving way to a spacey Playin' jam. This show also features the only China>Rider between the '74 retirement and Brent joining the band.

http://archive.org/details/gd1977-12-29.holwein.audience.jfishman.108432.flac16"

Nice post but one mistake, they played China/Rider a few times in the final Keith/Donna shows in February 1979.

Reply [edit]

Poster: Phlesh Wound Date: Sep 21, 2013 5:26pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: China Doll into?

Fair point. I often overlook that run of shows for some reason.